Locking apparatus



Nov. 30, 1954 A. CECI LOCKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24, 1951 Amanzio Cec/ INVENTOR.

Nov. 30, 1954 A. CECI LQCKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1951 Amanz/o Cam INVENTOR.

BY W and United States Patent 'Ofiice LOCKING APPARATUS Amanzio Ceci, Peckville, .Pa.

Application January 24, 1951, Serial No. 207,633

4Claims. (Cl. 109-3) The present invention relates to improvements 'in'1ock- I ing apparatus and 'more particularly to a device which is well adapted "for use in banks and the like to prevent the occurrence of a successful 'b'ank hold-up.

An object of the present invention is toprovide a locking apparatus which 'is operable by a single actuating switch 'behind'a tellers window whereby an electric motor will be actuated for winding a cable "means which is, in turn, connected to a plurality of reciprocable elements, the reciprocable elements comprising locking means for doors and closure means for the windows.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cut-off switch in the electrical circuit between the actuating switch and the electrical motor whereby when the reciprocable-elements reach their uppermost position, as in an emergency, the cut-'ofi switch .will be actuated for deactuating the motor.

A still further object of thepresent invention is to provide an arrangement including a brake means associated with the cable means where'bywhen IhCICClP- rocable elements reach their uppermost positions, .the brake means will be in applied relation and will prevent further rotation of the winding winch for the cable means and will also prevent releasing'movement of the locking elements and closure elements.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description to follow.

The best form in which I have contemplated applying my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bank or the like having rotating doors and tellers windows with the locking apparatus of the present invention associated therewith and in the actuated position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 but wherein the actuating switch is in actuated position and the various reciprocable elements are in their uppermost emergency positions for locking the revolving doors and closing the tellers window;

Figure 3 is a detail view showing the cut-off switch which is employed in combination with the various other elements of the locking apparatus; and

Figure 4 is a vertical detail sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, the numeral designates a building structure such as a bank or the like having a plurality of rooms 12, 14, 16 and 18, with revolving doors designated generally by the numeral 20 and tellers windows designated generally by the numeral 22. The locking apparatus of the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 24 and includes an actuating switch 26, a cut-off switch 28, an electric motor 30, winding means 32 and brake means 34.

The bank 10 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 as comprising a building structure having a pair of revolving doors 20 for gaining entrance to the several rooms within the structure. The revolving doors 20 are of conventional structure but have the lower ends of the individual panels 36 formed with recessed portions 38 provided by diagonal cuts at 40, as shown best in Figure 4.

Each of the revolving doors 20 is provided with a reciprocable locking element 42 which is engaged in a slot 44 formed in the floor of the building structure 10.

The locking element 42 is simply an elongated flat bar having an aperture 46 .in its lower end.

48 which are rotatably supported on the bracketsSO secured to the underside of the floor wall 52 0f the building structure 10. A first cable 54' is connected to the locking element 42' at the extreme left of Figure 1 and extends across the underside of the floor 5' 2forconnection to the second cable 56i'which is, in turn, connected to the locking element42 in the center of Figure l.

The tellers window 22 is formed witha slot 'immedi-' ately behind the window opening at 58and behind the bars 60. The closure plate 62 is connected to a downwardly extending elongated bar 64 which is engaged through an opening 66 in the floor wall 52. The lower endioffthe bar 64.has an aperture 68formed therein for receiving the cable end 170 of the'cable 72. A- pulley 74 is supportedon thebracket76 securedto the underside of the wall 52 and thecable72 is engaged thereover for. connection to the second cable 56. The third cable 72 is then passed over another pulley 78 supported on the bracket 80 and extends downwardly at 82 .for winding on the winding means 32.

Supported on the :platform 11 inthe basement of the building structure 10 are a plurality of "bearing brackets 84.; 86 and 88 which rotatablysupport "the shaft 90. The winding winch 92, gear 94 and brake drum 96 are secured .for rotation with theshaft 90. The motor 30 is supported onuthe'platform lland'has a pinion 98 se cured to its shaft for engagement with the gear '94 whereby theishaft 9.0 canbe rotated.' An electric cable 100' connects the electric motor 30 with the cut-elf switch 28.

The actuatingi'switch l26'is preferably positioned within the "tellers booth .14 and has a foot pedal 102 pivotally supported on thebase 104 containing a switch actuatable by the pedal 102. A cable '106 connects the-switch 26 with a source of electrical power while a cable 108 connects the'switch'26 with thecut-ofi switch 28 and electric motor30. The electric motor 30 is connectedin circuit with the source of power by the cables 100, 108, 106, when the switches 26, 28are closed.

Inasmuch as the third cable 72 has its downwardly extending portion 82 connected to the winch 92, actuation of the switch 26 by holding the pedal 102 down will result in energizing the electric motor 30 which will operate the winding means 32 for winding of the cable 82 about the winch 92, thereby effecting upward movement of the reciprocable locking element 22 and closure element 62.

A cable 110 is connected to an intermediate portion of the downwardly extending cable portion 82 and has its other end connected to the lever 112 of the cut-off switch 28, as best seen in Figure 3. The cut-off switch 28 is substantially of conventional form but is provided with a pair of clamping fingers 114 for maintaining the lever 112 in its uppermost position, and releasing the lever 112 for pivoting about the pin 116 upon pulling of the cable 110 in response to downward movement of the cable portion 82. The lever 112 is adapted to be manually set in its uppermost position. It will thus be seen that when the closure and locking elements reach their uppermost positions, the cable 110 will be under tension and will actuate the cut-off switch, thereby opening the circuit to the electrical motor 30 and preventing further winding of the winding means 32.

Another cable 118 is connected to an intermediate portion of the downwardly extending cable portion 82 and is engaged over the pulley 120 supported on the bracket 122 secured to the underside of the floor 52- of the building structure 10. The cable 118 has its free end connected to the brake band 124 which is engaged over the brake drum 96 and has its opposite end secured to the angulated bracket 126. The bracket 126 is fixedly se- Patented Nov. 30, 11,954.

posed in the path of the revolving doors 20 whereby rotation'will be prevented. Should the upper ends 39 of the locking elements 42 be in line with a door disposed thereover, the beveled end 39 will engage the beveled face 40 of the underside of the revolving doors to revolve the door from obstructing position whereby the continued upward movement of the locking elements may be accomplished.

Any conventional means, not shown, may be provided for reversing the motor 30 to provide for operating the winch 92 to unwind the cable 82. When the cable 82 is thus unwound, the brake drum 96 will frictionally rotate in the brake band 124 until tension is relieved on said cables 82, 118 sufiiciently for the brake band 124 to release said drum 96. The elements 42, 64 will descend by gravity as the cable 82 is unwound and take up slackin the cables 54, 56, 82.

In view of the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, it is believed that a device has been provided which will accomplish all of the 1. Locking means for a closure having opening movement comprising an elongated member slidably mounted for projection endwise into the path of opening movement of the closure, cable wind-up means for projecting said member including an operating motor and a pull cable operatively connected to said member to project the same, a switch for energizing said motor, a cut-out switch for said motor, means for opening said cut-out switch when said member has been projected, directly connected to and operated by pull of said cable, a brake for said wind-up means, and means operated by said cable to set said brake when said member is projected.

2. Locking means for a closure having opening movement comprising an elongated member slidably mounted for endwise projection into the path of opening movement of the closure, cable wind-up means for projecting said member including an operating motor and a pull cable operatively connected to said member to project the same, a switch for energizing said motor, a brake for said windup means, and means directly connected to and operated by said cable to set said brake when said member is projected.

3. Locking means for a closure having opening movement comprising an elongated member slidably mounted for projection endwise into the path of opening movement of the closure, cable wind-up means for projecting said member including an operating motor and a pull cable operatively connected to said member to project ,1 the same, a switch for energizing said motor, a cut-out switch for said motor, means for opening said cut-out switch when said member has been projected, directly connected to and operated by pull of said cable, a brake for said wind-up means, and means operated by said cable to 1 I set said brake when said member is projected, said means for opening the cut-out switch comprising a cable connection between said pull cable and cut-out switch.

4. Locking means for a closure having opening movement comprising an elongated member slidably mounted for endwise projection into the path of opening movement of the closure, cable wind-up means for projecting said member including an operating motor and a pull cable operatively connected to said member to project the same, a switch for energizing said motor, a brake for said wind-up means, and means directly connected to and operated by said cable to set said brake when said member is projected, said last means comprising a flexible pull connection between said cable and said brake.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 593,752 Murray et a1. Nov. 16, 1897 717,164 Castleman Dec. 30, 1902 760,669 Wardwell May 24, 1904 1,260,561 Lovejoy Mar. 26, 1918 1,413,233 Mitchell Apr. 18, 1922 1,498,798 Houle June 24, 1924 1,529,686 Bahrer Mar. 17, 1925 1,699,281 Dabrowski Jan. 15, 1929 1,836,059 Bancraft Dec. 15, 1931 1,928,611 Bancroft Oct. 3, 1933 

